Coan, speaking at a press conference at Westfield Fire Headquarters on Broad Street, commended the actions of firefighters to contain the fire and to evacuate the more than 100 residents of the apartment complex in downtown Westfield.

The fire caused $50,000 damage to the building.

The fire, he said, is the 34th in Massachusetts since 1997 directly related to smoking in the presence of a home oxygen unit. He said the problem is increasing as hospital stays become shorter and home oxygen units become more common among patients, in particular the elderly.

"There cannot be any smoking in the same home with oxygen," he said. "Oxygen soaks into clothing, upholstered furniture and hair, creating an oxygen-rich environment that is even dangerous with the oxygen turned off."

Coan said the death illustrates the need for Massachusetts to launch a home fire safety program focused on the elderly.

Westfield Fire Chief Mary Regan said the fire death is the second for Westfield this year. She offered condolences to the family of Lundgren and praised the efforts of firefighters to remove her from the burning apartment and rush her to the hospital.